Expanding the World of Star Wars: The Old Republic

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The saga of The Old Republic extends beyond the scope of the game. But what comic book and novel tie-ins are worth reading?

By Jesse Schedeen

Usually the rush of big video game releases has slowed this late into the year, but Star Wars: The Old Republic is keeping the industry buzzing all the way through the holidays. This MMORPG explores a massive war between the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic and the invading Sith Empire several centuries after the events of the Knights of the Old Republic games.

The Old Republic already features an immense amount of content for gamers to delve into, but the mythology extends well beyond the game itself. That's why we've put together a handy guide to all of the tie-in projects that have appeared on the market, both comics and novels. Whether you crave more of the story or just need something to occupy yourself during those annoying server queues, these books will keep you busy.

The Old Republic Vol. 1: Blood of the Empire

What it is: Though published as Volume One of the Old Republic comics, Blood of the Empire was actually the second storyline released. This series focuses squarely on the Sith Empire in the period leading up to the game. The story is specifically told through the eyes of an ambitious but troubled trainee named Teneb Kel. Kel is charged with assassinating the Emperor's apprentice. Success means one final chance at redemption in the eyes of his superiors. Failure will make Kel one more casualty in an increasingly deadly war.

Should you read it? The Old Republic has added a number of memorable new characters to the Star Wars mythology, and Kel is no exception. Blood of the Empire reinforces the notion that the Sith can be just as compelling protagonists as their Jedi enemies. While in general the plot isn't vital to understanding the events of Old Republic, this comic does introduce the secretive Sith Emperor.

Even better, Blood of the Empire was originally serialized as a web comic on Bioware's Old Republic website. That means interested readers can experience the story without having to fork over any cash.

The Old Republic Vol. 2: Threat of Peace

What it is: The first of the Old Republic comics to actually see print, the Threat of Peace takes place roughly a decade before the events of the game, during the Sacking of Coruscant seen in the "Deceived" trailer. This story features a wide cast of Jedi, Sith, and bounty hunters on both sides of the conflict, including recurring Old Republic villain Darth Angral.

Should you read it? Unfortunately, Threat of Peace is one of the weaker Old Republic tie-ins. The comic has a habit of throwing numerous characters at the reader with little introduction. The fact that so many of these characters recycle popular personality traits and appearances of other Star Wars icons doesn't help the confusion. The art is also rough and poorly suited to the tone of the Old Republic setting.

Like Blood of the Empire, Threat of Peace was originally serialized as a web comic. As uneven as this comic is, the simple fact that it's available on the Internet for free means there's nothing to lose by giving it a read. In some ways, the original serialized format makes for a better reading experience.

The Old Republic Vol. 3: Lost Suns

What it is: Lost Suns is the first of the Old Republic comics to debut in print and not online. This slightly longer saga focuses Theron Shan. Theron's name might be unknown, but you might recognize his mother Satele as the powerful Jedi who plays a major role in the game and wields the double-bladed lightsaber in several of the Old Republic trailers.

In this mini-series, Theron seeks out his mother's former mentor, Ngani Zho. The duo eventually battle the Black Sun crime syndicate and a Sith Lord named Darth Mekhis.

Should you read it? Lost Suns retains the creative team from Blood of the Empire, which makes it a return to from after the disappointing Threat of Peace. The fact that this story was created specifically for print also ensures that it reads better in collected form than the previous two books.

Like Threat of Peace, there are some very familiar qualities to the main characters, but with a more limited cast and intimate focus, the story is able to better differentiate Theron and Zho from characters like Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Lost Suns isn't hugely vital to the overall picture, but it does shed more light on the Shan family dynamic, something that also factors heavily into the main game.

The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance

Writer: Sean WilliamsPublisher: LucasBooks | Price: $7.99

What it is: The first of (currently) three novels tying into the Old Republic, Fatal Alliance is another tale set during the height of the Jedi/Sith war leading up to the game. Various Force wielders, soldiers, and bounty hunters all attend a Hutt auction with the intention of claiming a rare relic, but find much more than they bargained for in the process. What sets this particular conflict apart is that it forces the various factions to form a temporary alliance to combat a greater threat.

Should you read it? Looking at the Old Republic tie-ins in specific and the Expanded Universe in general, the best stories are the ones that focus at least as much on character as they do plot and action. Unfortunately, Fatal Alliance devotes itself mainly to the latter. Many of the main characters show interesting qualities, but the novel never has space to explore them much despite the 450-page length. As with the Threat of Peace comic, there are too many players for the story to grow organically.

Fatal Alliance features another appearance by Satele Shan, but the fact that it was published so far in advance of the game is testament to how little relevance it has to the overall Old Republic mythology. Fatal Alliance's one real advantage is that it's the only Old Republic novel currently available in paperback format, making it a cheaper read than the others.

The Old Republic: Deceived

Writer: Paul S. KempPublisher: LucasBooks | Price: $27.00

What it is: "Deceived" is also the name of the first of three CG teaser films Bioware released for The Old Republic. That's no mere coincidence. The novel focuses heavily on Darth Malgus, the Malak-like Sith Lord who has appeared in all three teasers so far. The book even chronicles the same battle depicted in the "Deceived" teaser.

But alongside Malgus and his Twi'lek servant Eleena, the book divides its focus among a revenge-fueled Jedi named Aryn Leneer and a smuggler named Zeerid Korr. The book follows all three characters as they encounter hardships and make a series of difficult and fateful decisions.

Should you read it? Only a handful of Expanded Universe characters can truly stand alongside the film favorites in terms of popularity. Malgus is already being celebrated as a new addition to those ranks. Some have even gone so far as to label him the greatest EU villain since Grand Admiral Thrawn. While that may be pushing it a bit, there's no denying that all the main characters in this book make fine additions to the EU mythology.

Most Star Wars tie-ins are heavily plot-driven, with characterization much less of a focus. Deceived breaks that trend by focusing on the characters first and foremost. Malgus, Leneer, and Korr all avoid the usual tropes and become fully realized protagonists. And given Malgus' central role in the game, this is one worth reading.

The Old Republic: Revan

Writer: Drew KarpyshynPublisher: LucasBooks | Price: $27.00

What it is: Ever since the release of the Knights of the Old Republic video game, fans of Darth Revan have wondered about the fate of this compelling villain-turned-hero. Where did he disappear to at the end of the game? What mysterious threat was he trying to uncover? This novel finally answers those questions. Taking place both between the two KOTOR games and after, it reunites any of the major players and continues the saga of Revan and the Jedi Exile. It also introduces several key figures who will play a central role in The Old Republic.

Should you read it? If you're intrigued by Revan – and most Star Wars gamers are – you'll want to give this book a shot. It focuses not just on him, but also KOTOR favorites like Bastila Shan, Canderous Ordo, Meetra Surik, and even faithful T3-M4. The book also provides the first real glimpse of the Sith Emperor, the central villain behind the events of The Old Republic.

That said, the novel has elicited a mixed reaction from fans. In a way it does diminish the villains of the two KOTOR games as it reveals their connections to the Sith Empire. It also lacks a truly satisfying finish, instead paving the way for The Old Republic. But still, Drew Karpyshyn continues Revan's story well, and the book sheds much more light on what the character's role in this new game will be.

Star Wars Omnibus: Tales of the Jedi Vols. 1 & 2

What it is: The Old Republic takes place some 3500 years before the Star Wars movies. However, the comics have explored even further back in the timeline. The various stories collected in the two Tales of the Jedi Omnibuses explore the early clashes between the Jedi Order and the Sith as far back as 5000 years before the films. These books debuted some of the earliest heroes in Star Wars mythology, including the Sith Lords Naga Sadow and Exar Kun and the Jedi Ulic Qel-Droma.

Should you read it? There's no direct tie between these comics and The Old Republic, as these were created in the early '90s when the Expanded Universe was still in its infancy. However, much of the mythology present here forms a foundation for the events of The Old Republic. These stories provide a clearer picture of what led to the downfall of the Sith Empire and why they remained hidden for 1000 years.

The omnibuses collect a variety of interconnected mini-series set over the course of 1000 years. With various creative teams responsible for the stories, it goes without saying that some are better than others. And in general, the art quality (particularly the coloring) doesn't quite measure up to current standards. But as a glimpse of a little explored portion of the Star Wars timeline, these omnibuses are essential.